Tag Archives: addicted to opiates

What are the Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction?

Hydrocodone is a commonly prescribed opioid medication used to treat pain which has a high potential of abuse. The use of opioids, which include prescription medications such as hydrocodone and illicit drugs such as heroin, has skyrocketed in recent decades, resulting in a widespread epidemic of abuse in the United States. It is estimated that there are currently 2 million people struggling with opioid addiction and that roughly 47,450 die every year from an opioid overdose. The crisis has been covered widely in the news, putting citizens on high alert regarding potential addiction in themselves and their loved ones. Understanding the signs of a hydrocodone addiction can be a vital step to starting down a path towards recovery. Here a few things to know regarding hydrocodone addiction.

What is Hydrocodone?

As previously mentioned, hydrocodone is a prescription opioid medication used to treat pain. It is semi-synthetic, meaning it is created in a lab rather than occurring naturally like other opioids such as morphine and codeine. Hydrocodone is generally combined with other medications, such as cough syrup to aid in reducing certain symptoms in addition to minimizing pain. It works by binding to certain receptors in the brain and altering the way the body reacts to pain. Hydrocodone can be prescribed in various forms including syrups, tablet, and capsules which are either extended release or short-acting. Outside of providing pain relief, hydrocodone can induce feelings of euphoria, making it a prime medication for abuse and addiction.

What are the Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction?

In the beginning, hydrocodone use may create symptoms of slowed heart rate, anxiety, headache and difficulty breathing. Under normal use, these symptoms are quite regular and will tend to dissipate with time. However, hydrocodone addiction occurs when an individual begins to take the medication outside of the way it was intended to be used. Your loved one may tell you that they have begun taking “just a little bit more” than the doctor has prescribed because their pain is not being absolved with the prescribed dose. This is an indication that the body has built up a tolerance to the medication and is no longer producing endorphins or aiding in pain relief without the presence of the drug and is one of the first signs that an individual is dependent on hydrocodone. Other signs of hydrocodone abuse include:

Seizures: Seizures can occur if an individual has used hydrocodone heavily or for an extended period of time and attempts to quit without medical assistance.

Depression: Your loved one may withdraw from social activities or things they once loved, especially when they are prevented from using hydrocodone. They may also begin to ignore their appearance and hygiene.

Confusion: A person with a hydrocodone addiction may have difficulty holding conversations or thinking logically.

Blurred vision: Individuals may find themselves knocking things over or running into objects due to poor vision.

Paranoia: Your loved one may begin to feel persecuted or illogically afraid of people and things they were once comfortable with.

It is also important to understand that individuals who have regularly used hydrocodone over a long period of time or who have become accustomed to using large doses generally experience withdrawal symptoms. This occurs when there is a significant reduction in the amount of hydrocodone used, resulting in uncomfortable and sometimes severe physical and mental symptoms including, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, clammy skin, and severe anxiety and depression.

What Should I do if My Loved One Is Addicted to Hydrocodone?

The best thing you can do for a loved one addicted to hydrocodone is to encourage them to get help. While many may believe that they can quit on their own or “cold turkey”, this method is not encouraged. Withdrawal symptoms can be quite severe for those with an even moderate addiction and enduring withdrawal without the help of a knowledgable professional can increase their risk for relapse. Thankfully there are people out there that can provide skilled and compassionate care throughout all stages of recovery. Your loved one does not have to quit on their own and there are options available to increase their chances of success. Ready to get started? Our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Give us a call at 123-456-7890.

What happens when an addict gets tired of trying to live within the cycle of addiction? That horrible desperation of chasing money to buy drugs that give nothing more than a temporary high. The process of having to deal with the destruction of relationships that seems to follow them wherever they go. Once addiction takes hold and starts ravaging the addict’s life, the options start to narrow.

Sooner or later, that’s exactly the position far too many people find themselves in when they get addicted to opiates. Opiates refer to popular substances like prescription painkillers, heroin and the ever-dangerous Fentanyl. For that wonderful euphoria people seek from these substances, there’s a huge price to be paid. However, there is a way out.

The first step towards recovery requires that the addict come to grips with the fact they are suffering from an illness. From there, they will realize it’s time to seek help. Experience teaches that the only way to recover from an opiate addiction is by getting treatment from a reputable drug and alcohol addiction treatment center.

For the ones who want the best possible care, rehab facilities in Florida should be on top of the list. The state has truly become a mecca for recovery. Throughout the world, South Florida is known as the “rehab capital of the world?” That reputation was earned because of the fact the region has a disproportionate number of the world’s top addiction treatment centers. What makes these facilities stand out above the rest?

Amazing success in treating people who stay in recovery

Employment of the top addiction treatment professional in the industry

Innovative treatment modalities

Luxury facilities with great amenities

Beautiful year-round weather

It’s worth noting that treatment encompasses more than therapy. It also includes detox programs. Below, you will find some information about why Florida is the perfect destination for medical detox.

Reasons to Do Medical Detox in Florida

For opiate addicts, a medical detox process is an essential precursor to therapy. It gives the patient an opportunity to get through some dangerous withdrawal symptoms with a minimum of discomfort. Here’s a partial list of the most common opiate withdrawal symptoms that are possible when an addict suddenly stops taking their drugs:

Loss of motor control and body function

Convulsions, body tremors, hallucinations and night mares

Difficulty sleeping

Breathing and blood pressure issues

Severe cramping in the body muscles and stomach area

Psychological issues like anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts

With so many of the world’s top rehab facilities concentrated in Florida, it makes sense that this is also the right place to go through detox. Let’s look at some of the reasons why.

Continuity of Treatment

Many of the top rehab centers in Florida provide its own detox services. For those that don’t, they usually have an affiliation with one of the better detox facilities in the area. For anyone who plans to go through the entire treatment process in a Florida rehab facility, there’s a great benefit derived from also going through detox there. It’s called continuity of treatment. As the patient is going through detox, they’ll have an opportunity to begin working with top addiction treatment specialists who work in the same facility or a referred facility. The proximity makes it easy for everyone to communicate about a particular patient’s progress and circumstances.

Access to Innovative Detox Methods

With many of the industry’s top clinicians working in Florida, the associated detox facilities are always on the cutting edge of new detox treatment methods. That’s exactly what a patient should want. They should be thrilled with the opportunity to get access to the latest, greatest and best detox methods available.

Temporary Relocation to a Safe Environment

Going through detox and treatment close to home is not always the best option. By relocating to Florida for the entire treatment process, the patient effectively removes themselves from the people, places and things that prompted their addiction. In turn, the move effectively removes possible interference from outside sources. That helps make it easier to focus on the task at hand, which is working hard to establish a strong recovery.

If you are one of the lucky ones who is ready to ask for help, we highly recommend you seek that help in Florida. For more information, you can contact our facility at 800-737-0933.